Image Credit: CFJC Today

By James Peters

COVID-19

“Where are we going to isolate our people?” Mustard Seed asks tough questions in light of COVID-19

Mar 20, 2020 | 4:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — The head of the Mustard Seed shelter says it’s time the community start thinking about how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the homeless.

Managing Director Mario Borba says, in the midst of self-isolation recommendations, homeless people still have nowhere to go. He says that makes them more vulnerable to contracting the virus, and passing it on to Mustard Seed staff.

“We are fortunate enough that we don’t have any (confirmed) cases here in Kamloops yet, but if it happens, where are we going to isolate our people? These people don’t have houses, they don’t have places to go,” Borba told CFJC Today. “They sleep in shelters. How are going to prepare ourselves to treat those ones who don’t have a place to stay?”

“If we close down, where are they going to go? Unfortunately, the population who we serve, they don’t have a place where they can self-contain. We need to actually start to think about that,” he continued.

Starting Monday (March 23), the Mustard Seed will begin enhanced screening before allowing clients into the shelter for meals, including taking each client’s temperature outside the facility and making them wash their hands as soon as they enter.

BC Votes

STREAMING: Kamloops All-Candidates Forums

Sep 30, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Someone finally takes the lead in reducing plastics

Sep 29, 2024

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of Sept. 23

Sep 28, 2024

Borba adds the shelter will accommodate no more than 50 people at a time.

“We have the guidelines and we’re following the guidelines, the distance, washing the hands and making everything as clean as possible. But still, there is a risk there for our staff, so I congratulate them for their courage.”

While many react to the pandemic by battening down the hatches financially, that can present a challenge for charities and not-for-profit agencies.

Borba says the Mustard Seed’s number-one need right now is financial support.

“Because the situation is affecting everybody in the world, and being a not-for-profit organization, we depend on donations. So just to remind people to access our website, theseed.ca, and if they can, donate for our relief fund,” he said.

And while employment has become a challenge as companies scale back or shut down, the Mustard Seed will be hiring soon.

“We’re going to be hiring temporary staff as soon as possible starting next week to cover the shortage that we have with the frontline staff,” Borba said. “So if anyone got laid off by their business, we’re going to be hiring next week — hiring a lot of people.”

“In the line of work that we do, unfortunately, most of it is front line. I [tell] my staff they’re heroes because they need to be there every day facing the risk just to help people.”